Premiership giants Rangers will be looking to get back to winning ways in the league when they take on Motherwell this weekend. The Ibrox club dropped their second set of points for the season last time out when they were unable to see out the win against Hibernian. A late goal by the home side took Steven Gerrard’s men by shock, and the appalling lack of depth in the roster meant that the manager was unable to make any telling changes either.
Despite dropping two valuable points and seemingly handing Celtic the advantage in the title race, they picked up an important European victory in midweek. The 4-0 thrashing of Willem II couldn’t have come at a better time for Rangers, as it could act as a morale booster for the upcoming league clash. With the Celts holding a game in hand as well, it’s essential for the Ibrox club to take every point that’s available to them from this point on.
Team News
One of the biggest issues that Gerrard has been facing over recent weeks is the lack of depth. The injuries are gradually beginning to pile up, and a lot of that is owing to the sheer fatigue that some of the players have experienced. The biggest concern is the knock to Jamaican striker Kemar Roofe. The former Leeds United man is unlikely to play any part in this fixture. Apart from Roofe, Joe Aribo, Ryan Jack and Brandon Barker are all unavailable for selection for the upcoming Premiership clash.
Here Is The Predicted 4-2-3-1 Rangers Lineup Vs Motherwell:
Predicted 4-2-3-1 Rangers Lineup Vs Motherwell
Defence
Despite Allan McGregor’s heroics in the Europa League in midweek, Jon McLaughlin could be in line to make his return to the side for this tie. The Scottish keeper has been the first-choice since the start of the new season, and that trend is likely to continue. In front of him, expect to see Leon Balogun returning to the eleven after a short stint out with injury. Connor Goldson is likely to partner him at the back, with James Tavernier and Borna Barisic taking up the full-back roles.
Midfield
In the absence of Scottish holding midfielder Ryan Jack, Gerrard has been forced to try out a couple of alternate combinations. Although he would probably prefer to experiment a little bit more, the lack of options means that he could be forced into sticking to his guns. Steven Davis and Glen Kamara started the midweek clash against Willem II, and are likely to retain their places in the side. Scott Arfield is the only other option that’s currently available to Gerrard in the role.
Attack
With Arfield seemingly expected to drop down to the bench, Gerrard could opt to shift Ianis Hagi in a more central role on the weekend. The Romanian struggled to get into the game in midweek but does deserve another opportunity considering the talent that he has got. Ryan Kent’s sublime display means that he is sure to start on one of the flanks, while Jordan Jones’ impressive substitute appearance makes him a likely starter as well. Alfredo Morelos is set to lead the Rangers attack line once again this weekend.
